Wave-motor



J. S. WILKIN- WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED n.3, 1920.-

.L v x v 5 k mm x M 4 9 m w m J W1; Lkin A'ITORNEY J. S. WILKIN.

WAVEMOTOR. APPLICATION man APR. 3. 1920' Patented Feb. 22,1921;

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY J. S. WlLKlN.

WAVE MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1920.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921;

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- J. S. WILUUIH,

J ma

A'n'dRNEY UNITED STATES PA OFFER.- If

JAMES s. ,WILKIN, or rrrmasnoao, 0310.,

WAVE-Moron;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known' that I, JAMES S. WILKJgN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsboro, in the county of Highland and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wave-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple, relatively inexpensive and at the same time efficient and du rable wave motor of a construction and arrangement of parts whereby a variation in the turbulence ofthe water will have the minimum effect upon the operation of the mechanism to the end that the storage or transmission of power will remain comparatively constant under all conditions and the liability of injury, if the apparatus is permitted to operate in stormy weather, will be reduced as compared with those devices in which the float is subjected under all conditions to the full force of the wave motion, and with these objects in view the invention consists in an apparatus of which a typical form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a general side view of the entire mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view, partly broken away or in section of the motion transmission mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a rear or sea-ward elevation of the float and the means whereby the same is of Fig. 2.

The float 10 consisting of a cross sectionally rhombodial body having a forwardly and downwardly inclined oblique outer wall 11 and a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall 12 (said body being of any desired length transversely of the direction of movement of the wave, as suggested in Fig. 3) is supported by suitably braced arms 13, pivotally mounted at 14 upon standards 15 which also should be suitably braced and a may consist of tiers or piles or may rise as indicated in the drawing from a substantial platform 16, said float being so weighted so as to normally occupy a position which is about half submerged in the water when the latter is comparatively quiet, the normal or neutral water-line being indicated at v 17 and the construction of the body of the "Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 22 Application filed April .3, 1920. Serial No. 371,086; i

float beingsuch as to causea deflection of the water as it encounters the body, to induce a glancing or deflectingimpact sothat the force of the waves will tend to raisejthe body 7 without imposing an objectionable strain upon the mountings of the supporting arms 13.

Carried by a suitable upright 18 located 7 in convenient relation to the free edge of the float are direction pulleys 19 and 20 around which extend a cable 21 which is attached as at 22 to the float, so that the upward and downward movementsof the latter cause a reciprocatory running movement to the cable which at its landward end or bight passes around a sprocket wheel. 23 forming a part of transmission mechanism which is suitably supported bya tower or pier 24. i The said sprocket wheel carriesfclutch members 25 and 26 which are respectively arranged in cooperative relation with complemental clutch members 27 and 28 of which the former is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the drive shaft 29 while the latter is loosely mounted upon said shaft and is provided with a beveled gear 30 -meshing with asimilar. gear 31 which in turn is engaged with a gear 32 keyed or otherwise secured to the drive shaft, to the end that rotary motion in either direction of the sprocket wheel, due to the movement of the cable or chain will communicate motion through one or the other of the clutches to the drive shaft, but always will. move the shaft in the same direction. Suitable bearings 33 and 34 are provided for the drive shaft and are supported by suit- I able pedestals 35 rising from the tower or pier 24.

Owing to the peculiar construction and mounting of the float and the fact that under mean or normal conditionsit is supported in what is approximately a semisubmerged condition, the walls of the float which are exposed toimpact due to the wave movement of the water being disposed to V deflect and thus minimize the impact of the water so that the effect upon the float is mainly due to the-rise and fall in the surface of the water, it is possible to use the transmission mechanism and supporting means for the apparatus which are of comparatively light structure without incurring the risk, common to devices of this general type, of damage or serious injury in stormy weather when the waves are relatively high and strong and in some instances necessitate the disconnection of the float or the elevation of the same to a level beyond the reach of the waves. trated the apparatus may be used under all conditions and in practice is found to produce a power which isrelatively constant and of moderate degree which can readily be transmitted; by mechanisrn'of light and comparatively inexpensive structure.

What is claimed is A- wave motor comprising an upright support, landwardly extending arms piv- 15 oted upon the upper end of said support, a

lVith the construction illus-w and of rhomboidal shape whereby to present downwardly inclined oblique faces to an incoming wave, an upright support mounted at the free end of the float, a pulley journaled at the lower portion of said second named upright, a supporting structure spaced from the second named upright, a shaft j ournaled upon sald last named supporting structure and carrying a fly-wheel, ratchet mechanism and a pulley, and a flexi ble member trained about all of said pulleys and connected with the free end of the float.

p In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES S. WILKIN. 

